Crazy Talk Tutorial

Online Help

Free Trial Download

Introducing the Project Page

You may save your creation as a project file to continue modifying whenever you want. Built-in and

custom projects are stored in the Project Gallery for you to easily apply.

1. New/Open/Save

: Click to create an empty new project file.

: Click to browse to and open a desired project file.

: Click to save the current project as a file.

2. Project Gallery

: Click to apply one of the project files from the

Template or Custom tabs.

: Click to add the current project into the Custom tab.

: Click to overwrite the selected project in the gallery

with the current project.

3. Playback Control

: Playback script.

: Pause playback of script.

: Stop playback of script.

: Loop playback of script.

: Adjust volume.

Creating a blank project:

You may click the New Project button to start a new project with only one model on a

white background with no script present throughout the project.

Creating a new project:

Create a model by loading an image or using one of the images on the right side of your

screen. To use one of the images from the right side of your screen, double click on the

image. To create a model or use a saved image, do the following:

Getting Started - Creating CrazyTalk Models

You can create your own customized CrazyTalk Models using any digital snapshot of yourself, a picture

of your friends, colleagues, family members, i.e. any photo from your digital camera.

Loading Image

There are two ways to load your image:

Import Image: Click to import a jpg, bmp, tga or png file with one or more faces to generate

models.

Camera Capture: Click to take a picture with your web camera. Another panel will open for

capturing an image.

Cropping, Rotating and Enhancing Imported Image

Image Processing is the first step of the wizard. You may also click the Image Processing

button to open the image processing tools and enhance the image after exiting the wizard.

Crop Image: Select the required image area.

/ Rotate CW / Rotate CCW: Rotate the image by 90 degrees in the clockwise or

counter-clockwise direction.

Mirror: Mirror the image on the horizontal axis.

Smart Level: Adjust the color levels of the image automatically.

Color Level: Adjust the brightness, contrast, hue and saturation levels of the image

manually. Use the sliders in the menu box to adjust the values or enter the numerical values for

each parameter in the boxes next to the sliders.

Color Balance: Adjust the color balance manually. Drag the sliders to adjust the Cyan -

Red, Magenta - Green, and Yellow -Blue levels. Click Highlights to apply these color settings

to emphasize the brighter areas. Click Midtones to apply these color settings to the entire image

with average intensity. Click Shadows to apply these color settings to emphasize the darker

areas in the image.

Face Fitting

The Face Fitting step is next. Click and move the indicators numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4 on the image to

provide the four points for the fitting process as displayed in the sample image. You may also click the

Face Fitting button to start the Face Fitting step again after exiting the wizard to add or delete

models.

Adjust the four points as close to the correct position as possible to get the best fit for the eyes and

mouth features.

If you merely want to have a single model in the project, please skip the following steps.

To generate multiple models (you may add up to four models):

i. Click the Add Model button.

ii. Drag on the image to select another character on the image. Please note that the top left corner of

the cursor is the base for framing out a model.

iii. Locate the four feature points again to best fit the new model's eyes and mouth features.

iv. You may click on the target quadrilateral and click the Delete Model button to remove the

model.

Click the OK button when you finish adding models and go to the next process.

(3D) Face Orientation

The Face Orientation step displays. Here you may assign different face styles to every model by

clicking the model on the image and then selecting a suitable style.

You may also click the Face Orientation button to invoke the Face Orientation step again after

exiting the wizard to re-assign different face styles to each model.

Utilize the tool to rotate the oval wire to best fit the orientation of the face on the image. Do

not worry if the wire does not perfectly fit the face on the image since this panel is only for

deciding the rotation strength of the profile.

Strength: Drag the slider to adjust the movement strength of the profile as the model rotates.

Preview: Toggle this button and move your mouse around to see the effects of the Strength in

the viewport. Toggle it again to leave the Preview mode.

Click the OK button to exit the wizard and go back to the model page with the newly-generated models.

You may click the , , and buttons on the Model page to re-launch the panels above to

change the settings.

Separating Models from Background

Click the Background Mask Editing button to modify the area of the image that reveals the

background image, which does not move along with the talking models.

If you load TGA or PNG images with alpha channel, the alpha channel will be automatically converted into

the Background Mask.

Full: Extend the background mask over the complete image area.

Clear: Delete the background mask.

Inverse: Invert the background mask area. The area that was previously defined as the

background mask and the animated area are swapped.

Paint: Paint on the image to enlarge the background area or add more parts to it.

Erase: Paint to erase parts of the background mask.

Brush Size: Drag the slider to adjust the size of the brush tool.

Mask Color: Click and specify the color for the background mask via the color palette.

Opacity: Drag the slider to specify the opacity of the background mask.

Contract/Expand: Drag the slider to contract or expand the background mask.

Blur: Drag the slider to blur the edges of the background mask.

Preview: View the results of your editing.

Fine Tuning Face Fitting in Wireframe Mode

CrazyTalk automatically generates a wire-frame surrounding the face according to the 4 points you set

in the Face Fitting panel. You may click Basic Facial Mode or Detailed Facial Mode to

view the wire-frame. Drag the control points or the lines to fit the character’s face much more precisely

in these two modes.

Please also use the tools above the viewport to zoom in/out or pan the image to

locate the points more precisely.

Basic Facial Mode Detailed Facial Mode Zoom in for Editing

The wire-frame structure is divided into two parts, Character Frame and Head Frame (includes Skull

Mesh and Hair Mesh).

Character Frame

Head Frame

Skull Mesh Hair Mesh

The character frame

decides the range on

the image to generate

The skull mesh is

used to frame out the

skull, eyes, nose and

The hair mesh, also

known as Pharaoh

mesh, is used to

a model.

Cover the whole

body of the character

on the image with the

character frame so the

whole model can be

transformed in the

timeline editor.

mouth of the model.

The more proper the

points are aligned, the

better the facial

animation the model

presents.

frame out objects

attached to the head

such as hair, hat or

long ears (of animals).

It prevents the

image from breaking

and increases the

realism as the model

rotates.

Defining Custom Background

Click the Background Settings button to specify a solid color or an image as the background.

Color: Click to specify a solid color as the background.

Background:

o Original Background: Use the background of the original image.

o Color Background: Select this button to enable the solid color as background as specified

in the previous step.

o Import: Browse to your desired image and apply it as the background of your project. You

may also specify the Position of the image in the background.

The original look

Define the background area (blue area)

Scene image imported as the background.

Result

Specifying Virtual Eyes

Click the Eye Settings button to specify the settings for

the Eyes.

i. Select one of the eye templates from the Eye Style drop-

down list.

ii. Click Modify. You may then adjust the position and the

color of the Eyeball, Eyelash, Eye Shadow as well as

the Specularity of the eyes.

Before After

You may also click the Import button to import custom images (JPG, BMP, TGA, PNG,) with or

without alpha channel as the texture of the character's Eyes (256 pixels x 256 pixels).

Specifying Virtual Teeth and Inner Mouth Color

Click the Mouth Settings button to specify the settings for the Teeth, Mouth and Lips.

Before After

You may also click the Import button to import custom images (JPG, BMP, TGA, PNG,) with or

without alpha channel as the texture of the model's Teeth (256 pixel x 166 pixels).

Assigning Standby Motions

Pick the model and click the Model Motion Settings button to assign different Standby Motions

to individual models. The models' head will rotate when they are not speaking.

1. Modify the script optionally.

The Script page is the critical phase in CrazyTalk's process of creating talking images. Here you decide

what and how your models talk and specify expressions, facial movements and special effects that go

along with the animated script.

Note: You can download additional text-to-speech voices from Microsoft or browse Reallusion website for

more information.

To record your own script, use the Red Record button on the left

Adding Model Audio

Click the New Script button to start a new script without any keys. The length of the new

script is 15 seconds by default.

To import WAV/MP3 files, click the Import Audio button to import a speech file in PCM

WAV/MP3 format. Specify the name and location of the WAV/MP3 file using the dialog box and

click Open to open the file.

To record sound, click the Record Audio button.

Click the Record button to start recording. Recording from the specified audio source starts.

To convert text to speech, click the Text-to-Speech button.

i. If you have more than one TTS engine installed, you may need to select the engine first.

ii. Type the text in the editor window.

Change to Front Mics if using the

headsets and mics plugged into

the front of the computer.

iii. From the Voice Mode drop-down list, select the type of voice to be used by the model for

speaking.

iv. Adjust the voice by using the Volume, Pitch, and Speed sliders to achieve the desired

effect. Click the Preview button to play back the result. Click the OK button when done.

a. New Script: Click this button to add one blank script into the model's

track. The default length of the new script is 15 seconds.

b. Import Audio: Click this button to import a pre-recorded speech files in

PCM WAV/MP3 format.

c. Record Audio: Click this button to record voice via microphone installed

on your system.

d. Text-to-Speech: You may convert typed text into speech with this

feature.

Note: You can download additional text-to-speech voices from Microsoft or

browse the Reallusion website for more information.

Modifying a Talking Script

There are three methods to modify a talking script:

A. Double-click or right-click (select Edit in the right menu) on the target script in the Stage.

B. Select a script in the track and click the Timeline tab in the Stage panel.

C. In the Timeline Editor, select the target script in the script drop-down list.

Adding Expressions to a Talking Script

There are 4 methods to add expressions to a talking script:

A. Emotives Library

Click the Emotives tab to view a set of basic templates such as sad, angry, happy, and more.

Double-click on the desired template to apply it.

You can adjust the strength of the expression on the model's face by using the

slider.

B. Motion Clip Gallery

Drag-and-drop the desired template from the Motion Clip gallery.

(These templates contain expressions and special effects)

To create a custom motion clip, drag to select the desired portion in the Motion Clip track and

click the Group button.

C. Utilizing Puppeteering Panel

Click the Puppet Control button to invoke the Puppeteering Panel to create custom motion clips.

A motion clip will be overlapped as the top layer of the Face, Transform, Eyes or Shoulders tracks.

Select a Puppet Profile and full face control, click the Preview button and press the Space bar to

view the result. Click the Record button when you are satisfied with the settings.

Pick a desired profile and click the Record button, then press the Space bar to start recording the

motion clip. Move your mouse to move the model, the movements will be recorded

simultaneously. Press the Space bar again to stop recording.

D. Setting Keys

There are two methods to set keys to individual tracks:

Double click on any empty place of each track to invoke the related dialog box to add desired

template.

Track Double Click Description

Voice Select all tracks.

Lips Invoke Lip Synching o Select desired template.

dialog box. o Adjust the strength.

Motion Clip No reaction

o Drag in this track to make a range for creating custom motion

clips.

o Group the data from Transform, Face, Face Strength, Head,

Eye, Shoulder, SFX and SFX-Swap to convert into one single

Motion Clip.

Transform Invoke Key Editor

dialog box. o Set transform keys for Models manually or automatically.

Face/Face

Strength

Invoke Facial

Expression dialog

box.

o Select desired template.

o Adjust the strength of the expression.

o Modify the Facial Feature and Muscles.

o Add/Delete customized template.

Head

Invoke Key Editor

dialog box.

o Set keys for Head, Facial Muscles, Eyes, and Shoulders

manually or automatically.

o Specify the Facial Muscles in an Expression key.

Eye

Shoulder

SFX/SFX-

Swap

Invoke the Special

Effect dialog box.

o Select Image Theme, Image Overlay, and Text SFX as special

effect.

o Type texts as the contents of the text special effects.

o Two tracks of SFX for creating more special effects in the front or

background of the image.

Invoke the Key Editor panel, pick Head, Transform, Eyes or Shoulders in the Key Editor

panel, drag on the sample image to adjust the model, and click the Set Key button to add a key

into the timeline. Check the Auto Key box to update the key automatically instead of having to

press the Set Key button manually.

2. Click the Save Project button. You are prompted to save the project.

Note: You may also use the Add button to save the project into the Project Gallery.

You may also save your current project while on the Model or Script page.

Opening a project:

Click the Open Project button on the Project page.

Double-click on the thumbnail in the Template or Custom gallery. Alternatively, select the

desired project thumbnail and click the Apply button to open the project.

Double-click on the project file (*.ctp) to open it.

Saving a Project

Please load an image and (optionally) modify the script for the model before saving.

Save on the Project page

1. Select the Custom tab in the project gallery.

2. Pick the target folder.

3. Click the Add button to save the current project.

Save on any page

1. Click the button anytime on any page. The Save As Project File dialogue will appear.

2. Specify the name for the file, select the desired folder and click Save.

Note:

If you click the Save Project button with the Ctrl key pressed down,

CrazyTalk saves the model of each frame in JPEG format, which can decrease the

size of the project file.

Opening and saving (with the Ctrl key pressed down) one project file repetitively will

cause the quality of the model to decrease since CrazyTalk opens the project in BMP

format but saves in JPEG format.

You may create subfolders under the Project or Desktop by clicking the

button in the Project Gallery/Custom tab.

CrazyTalk prompts you whether you want to save the unused script clips in the

disabled character tracks on the stage. If you decide to save them, the clips can be

reused when another model is added. This will cause the file size increase however.

Introducing the Output Page

CrazyTalk now offers the convenient feature of exporting your talking images to multimedia formats

that are compatible with a wide range variety of devices. For instance, you can convert your talking

message to an AVI file with DVD and HD quality, or for uploading to YouTube. You can convert it to

sequenced image (BMP/TGA/PNG) files or a streaming RM (Real Media) file to broadcast on a web server.

Exporting Flash files is also supported so you may output your talking model as a flash animation.

1. Playback

Control

: Playback script.

: Pause playback of script.

: Stop playback of script.

: Loop playback of script.

: Adjust volume.

2. Viewing Tools

: Zoom In - Enlarge image to increase clarity.

: Zoom Out - Reduce magnification to increase the area

of visibility.

: Fit to Window - Resize image to fit it in the viewport.

: Original Size - Display image at original size and

magnification.

: Drag Zoom - Drag a marquee across the image and

enlarge the selected area.

3. Mode Tabs

: Output Video/Sequenced Images/Wave Files.

: Output Widget Files.

: Output Files for Web.

: Upload Files to YouTube.

4. Output Settings Provides options for specifying the output media format, area

for export, target resolution, etc.